ABA Therapy Centers in Nevada

Compare ABA providers in Las Vegas and Elko, and learn which of Nevada's payers fits your child: Medicaid, a group health plan, or the state's Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP).

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ABA therapy and autism supports in Nevada

Nevada Medicaid covers ABA for members of any age when it is medically necessary, with a diagnosis form and prior authorization before treatment starts. Private group health plans must cover autism treatment under NRS 689B.0335 for members under 18, or until 22 for students still in high school, with ABA benefits up to $72,000 a year. The Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP) pays for ABA for children under 20 after other coverage is used. Children under three start with Early Intervention.

Special Needs Care Network lists 61 ABA providers serving 8 cities in Nevada.

Children under 21 with Nevada Medicaid can get ABA through EPSDT when the state finds it medically necessary, but each clinic has to accept your child's specific plan. Our guide to finding ABA therapy that accepts your Medicaid plan covers what to ask before you book an intake.

Medicaid ABA: Covered for members of any age when medically necessary; prior authorization is required for all services except the assessment.
Autism insurance law: NRS 689B.0335 covers autism treatment on group health insurance for members under 18, or under 22 if enrolled in high school.
ABA benefit cap: A maximum benefit of the actuarial equivalent of $72,000 per year for ABA, a fixed figure in the statute.
State funding: ATAP serves children under 20 with an autism diagnosis and pays after insurance and other resources.
Early Intervention: Birth until age three; call Project ASSIST at 1-800-522-0066 or use the online referral form.
Behavior analyst license: The Board of Applied Behavior Analysis licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts under NRS Chapter 641D.

Nevada Medicaid ABA and managed care plans

Nevada Medicaid has covered ABA since January 1, 2016, and the policy sits in Medicaid Services Manual Chapter 3700. A child needs an autism diagnosis (or another condition for which ABA is medically necessary), submitted on form FA-11F. Every service needs prior authorization except the assessment, which is allowed once every 180 days. Around 90 percent of members are in managed care, and each plan sets its own prior authorization process, so call the number on the back of your card.

Five managed care plans deliver ABA: Anthem, CareSource, Health Plan of Nevada, Molina and SilverSummit.
State-run fee-for-service covers people with disabilities and seniors, among others.
If a prior authorization is denied, ask your plan for a fair hearing or appeal.

NRS 689B.0335 and the $72,000 ABA benefit

NRS 689B.0335 requires group health insurance to cover screening, diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders for members under 18, or until 22 if enrolled in high school. ABA is capped at the actuarial equivalent of $72,000 per year, and the plan cannot charge higher deductibles, copays or coinsurance for autism outpatient care than for other outpatient care. Individual policies fall under NRS 689A.0435, which requires insurers to offer the coverage. The statute reaches insured policies, so ask HR whether your employer plan is insured or self-funded.

The Division of Insurance says $72,000 tracks to about 1,500 hours a year and can differ by carrier.
Policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026 are treated as including this coverage.

ATAP and the Regional Center waiver

The Autism Treatment Assistance Program (ATAP), run by the Aging and Disability Services Division, funds evidence-based treatment for children under 20 with an autism diagnosis. It pays in-network providers a monthly allotment based on the treatment plan, age and income, and it is the payer of last resort after insurance. Separately, Nevada's HCBS waiver for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities serves people who meet an ICF/IID level of care, and families apply through a Regional Center.

ATAP: call (775) 531-4003 in Carson City, or the Las Vegas intake line at (725) 281-2542.
Desert Regional Center serves Clark County: (702) 486-7850.
Rural Regional Center serves rural counties: (775) 687-5162. Sierra Regional Center serves Washoe County: (775) 687-2600.

Nevada Early Intervention for children under three

Nevada Early Intervention Services (NEIS) serves children from birth until age three who have developmental delays or disabilities. The evaluation and assessment are free. Anyone can refer a child: a parent, a caregiver, a doctor or another professional. After a referral, a specialist contacts you to explain the process. From age three, evaluations move to your local school district under the Nevada Department of Education.

Southern Nevada referral hotline: 725-281-3125.
Northern Nevada referral hotline: 775-531-4043.
Project ASSIST, toll free: 1-800-522-0066.

Nevada licenses behavior analysts and technicians

The Board of Applied Behavior Analysis licenses behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts and registers registered behavior technicians under NRS Chapter 641D. A licensed behavior analyst must hold current BCBA or BCBA-D certification. Nevada law bars anyone from practicing applied behavior analysis or using these titles without the matching license or registration. Ask any provider for the supervising analyst's Nevada license.

Where Nevada families find ABA

ABA supply in Nevada centers on Las Vegas, with a smaller presence in northern and rural towns such as Elko. Families surveyed for a 2026 state ABA webinar named limited providers in rural Nevada and Las Vegas and long waitlists, so ask about openings early. Regional Centers and Early Intervention offices follow geography, so the office you call depends on your county.

ABA therapy in Las Vegas
Clark County families call Desert Regional Center, and the Southern Nevada referral hotline handles Early Intervention.
ABA therapy in Elko
Elko sits in a rural county, so developmental services run through the Rural Regional Center.

Where to start in Nevada

Ask your pediatrician or a qualified clinician for an autism diagnosis, then confirm whether your Medicaid plan needs the FA-11F diagnosis form for ABA.
Call the number on your Medicaid or insurance card and ask for in-network ABA providers and the prior authorization steps.
If your child is under 20 and insurance falls short, call ATAP at (775) 531-4003, or the Las Vegas intake line at (725) 281-2542.
For a child under three, call Project ASSIST at 1-800-522-0066 while you wait for a clinic intake.

Nevada ABA therapy questions

Does Nevada Medicaid cover ABA therapy, and for what ages?

Yes. Nevada Medicaid covers ABA for members of any age when it is medically necessary, and coverage has been in place since January 1, 2016. The child needs an autism diagnosis or another condition for which ABA is medically necessary, documented on form FA-11F. Your provider requests prior authorization for treatment. The assessment is the one service that does not need it, and it is allowed once every 180 days.

What is ATAP in Nevada and who can use it?

ATAP is the Autism Treatment Assistance Program, a statewide program run by the Aging and Disability Services Division. It serves children under 20 with an autism diagnosis from a physician, psychologist or other qualified professional. It pays a monthly allotment to in-network providers based on the treatment plan, age and income. ATAP is the payer of last resort, so use insurance and other resources first, then call (775) 531-4003 to apply.

Is there a dollar cap on ABA coverage under Nevada's autism insurance law?

Yes. NRS 689B.0335 limits ABA to a maximum benefit of the actuarial equivalent of $72,000 per year on group health insurance. The Nevada Division of Insurance notes that this tracks to about 1,500 hours a year and may differ by carrier. The statute states a fixed number, not an indexed one. Ask your plan for its written autism benefit and how it counts ABA hours.

Which Nevada Medicaid plan do I call about an ABA prior authorization?

Call the number on the back of your Medicaid card. Nevada has five managed care plans (Anthem, CareSource, Health Plan of Nevada, Molina and SilverSummit), and each can set its own prior authorization process. People with disabilities may be in state-run fee-for-service instead. If the request is denied, you can ask for a fair hearing or appeal.

Which Regional Center serves my county in Nevada?

Desert Regional Center serves Clark County, except the outlying rural areas, and you can reach it at (702) 486-7850. Sierra Regional Center serves Washoe County at (775) 687-2600. Rural Regional Center serves all rural counties and the outlying rural areas of Clark County at (775) 687-5162. Regional Centers are where families apply for developmental services and the intellectual and developmental disabilities waiver.

Planning resources

Choose an autism therapy center

Questions to use when comparing clinical fit, staffing, and services.

ABA intake checklist

Bring the right coverage and clinical questions to an intake call.

ABA insurance appeal templates

Templates for requesting a clear coverage decision or review.

ABA therapy cost by state

Compare cost context and coverage questions for Nevada.

Early intervention guide

How IDEA Part C services differ from clinic treatment and school services.

ABA first 30 days checklist

A practical record-keeping and communication checklist.

Autism rates by state

Federal autism-identification data by state.

Special needs schools in Nevada

Explore school and educational-program options separately from therapy.

Primary sources

Last reviewed against the linked primary sources on October 18, 2026. Medicaid, CHIP, commercial insurance, self-funded employer plans, military coverage, waiver programs, and school services follow different rules. This page is general information, not legal, medical, or benefits advice.

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